"Very good, my dear," he said cavalierly; "then you shall have the pleasure of watching progress, and seeing yourself thrust out, if you please. Bai Jove, though, Laury, I did think you were a girl of more spirit! Seems really, though, a good deal smitten, does Charley." Laura's countenance changed, and her teeth were set together. "I shall let him go on, then, for my part, if you choose it to be so." "I choose!" cried Laura, with the tears in her eyes. "O, Max, why do you torture me?" "Then look here!" said Max. And once more he leaned over towards her, assuming a quiet ease, but at the same time it was plain to see that he was greatly excited. He talked on and on impressively, with the effect of making Laura's lips part and her eyes to glisten with a strange light. Then a pallor overspread her countenance, but only to be swept away by a look of exultation as Max still talked on. "But it is impossible, Max!" cried Laura, at length. "Perhaps you'll leave me to judge about that, and think only of your own part!" he said coolly. "Is my advice--are my offers--worth accepting?" "O yes, Max, yes!" cried Laura excitedly; "I'd do anything!" "I don't want you to do anything," said Max, smiling with triumph; "only what I advise. Help me, and I will help you with all my heart. But I always knew that you would. You say that you don't like my choice. Well and good; I might say that I don't like yours. Perhaps my affair will come to nothing; but, anyhow, you are the gainer. I won't say anything about hating, but let you have your selection. Now let me have mine. But if you have anything better to propose, I am ready to listen." "But I have no plans, Max. I only thought of her being sent away; I'm half broken-hearted and worn-out with disappointment!" "Yes, just so. I expected as much, and I was waiting here to see you," said Max. "I'm not blind, Laury, nor deaf either. I heard you two shouting across the hall. So you've been telling the old lady that some one shall go, have you?" "Yes, I have!" exclaimed Laura, ignoring the past conversation; "and she shall go too! Mamma did promise me." "Ya-a-as, I know," said Max, relapsing into his drawl; "but that was before she promised me. The second will counts before the first made. But, as I said before, and we understand now, she's not going--so there's an end of it." "O, of course!" cried Laura passionately. "Everything must be as mamma's dear boy wishes! He shall have everything he likes, and do as he likes, and say what he likes, and every one else is to give way to him!"